Mixotrophy in marine microalgae for renewable biomass production (MMM-REBIO)
Short description
The project aims to develop mixotrophic cultivation (the simultaneous use of light and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and organic carbon for respiration) to maximize growth and outdoor productivity for microalgae strains from the Swedish west coast. The main objectives are: i) to better understand mixotrophic metabolism in diatoms using using Skeletonema marinoi as a model; ii) to explore the optimal mixotrophic conditions for enhanced productivity of S. marinoi; iii) to investigate the potential industrial applications of S. marinoi when cultivated under mixotrophy. Computational, biophysical, analytical, biotechnological and biological methods are employed. A mixotrophic outdoor cultivation of marine microalgae in the dynamic climate of the Swedish west coast could provide a higher total production of renewable biomass for industry.
More about the project
Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotic algae (microalgae) and one of the most common and diverse type of marine phytoplankton. Thanks to a flexible cell metabolism, they dominate in environmental conditions normally unfavorable for photosynthesis, i.e. freezing seawater, low light intensity and short photoperiod. Moreover, diatoms are able to synthesize storage lipids (20-50% of cell dry weight) that can be used for production of renewable biomass and high-value fatty acids.
However, the success of these microalgae as feedstock depends on lowering the production cost. The proposed project aims to develop mixotrophic cultivation (i.e. the simultaneous use of light and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and organic carbon for respiration) to maximize growth and outdoor productivity for selected strains from the Swedish west coast. The focus will be on the bloom-forming coastal diatom Skeletonema marinoi whose sequence annotation is ongoing, and the recent knowledge on mixotrophic growth of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum will be employed.
The main objectives will be:
- using the bloom-forming S. marinoi to better understand mixotrophic metabolism in diatoms
- exploring the optimal mixotrophic conditions for enhanced productivity of S. marinoi
- investigating the potential industrial applications of S. marinoi when cultivated under mixotrophy
To achieve these objectives, an interdisciplinary approach including computational, biophysical, analytical, biotechnological and biological methods will be employed. A mixotrophic outdoor cultivation of marine microalgae in the dynamic climate of the Swedish west coast could provide a higher total production of renewable biomass for industry.
Members
Cornelia Spetea Wiklund (professor)
Valeria Villanova (researcher)
Mats Töpel (researcher) Department of Marine Sciences, GU
Susanne Ekendahl, Johan Engelbrektsson, Niklas Strömberg, RISE
Benjamin Bailleul, CNRS France
Adriana Ianora, SZN Italy
Publications
-
Two-phase microalgae cultivation for RAS water remediation and high-value biomass production
- Mixotrophy in diatoms: Molecular mechanism and industrial potential
- Mixotrophy in a Local Strain of Nannochloropsis  granulata for Renewable High-Value Biomass Production on the West Coast of Sweden
Horizon 2020
The project is funded by the EU. Read more at CORDIS
